Who was better, Calzaghe when he fought Eubank or the one that fought Hopkins???

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by Broxi, May 26, 2008.


  1. Broxi

    Broxi Stand With Ukraine Full Member

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    Same rules apply!!


    Also to put some perspective on it, while Joe was fighting Chris Eubank for a vacant SMW title, Bernard Hopkins was fighting at MW and had just dominated an undefeated Glen Johnson, as good a performance as you'll find from B-Hop IMO.
     
  2. Cobbler

    Cobbler Shoemaker To The Stars Full Member

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    Calzaghe when he beat Eubank was just seen as a raw puncher.

    Calzaghe now can beat fighters in a multitude of ways, he identifies his opponents strengths and takes it away from them.

    Calzaghe that beat Eubank hit a lot harder, but Calzaghe of now would find a way to beat Calzaghe of then.
     
  3. Broxi

    Broxi Stand With Ukraine Full Member

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    That's a fair enough assessment I'd say, so when do you think the turning point for JC was, when he became a more clever boxer?
     
  4. Cobbler

    Cobbler Shoemaker To The Stars Full Member

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    I don't know if there is a turning point as such, it's been more an evolution throughout his career.

    People, of course, have argued before that his hand problems actually contributed to this by forcing him to rely less on his power.
     
  5. IrnBruMan

    IrnBruMan Obsessed with Boxing banned

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    You been reading Irvine Welsh books recently?
     
  6. Ilesey

    Ilesey ~ Full Member

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    For me this is simple - when he fought Hopkins. Although he is now older and he doesn't punch with the same ferocity as when he was battering Eubank - he now is a much smarter more experienced boxer. It may have something to do with his hand trouble. He changes and adapts very well to ensure victory. He was probably more exciting when he started his career.
     
  7. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    This is entirely correct. Hopkins would have gobbled Eubank era Calzaghe up. Hopkins Calzaghe would still have beaten the old version of Eubank that Joe took on.
     
  8. BigBone

    BigBone Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Calzaghe looked the very best before he met Hopkins - he looked awesome vs. Kessler. He lost speed, power and accuracy in moving up in weight and still performed better than Taylor, Tarver and Winky vs. Hopkins. The Calzaghe who fought Hopkins (at 168) would definitely beat the green, more offensive Joe who defeated Eubank.
     
  9. mike464

    mike464 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    The Calzaghe that beat Hopkins is much better. Can you even imagine the Calzaghe that beat Eubank going the distance with Hopkins?
     
  10. ghostlybadge

    ghostlybadge Punch Drunk Full Member

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    jc now would beat the jc that beat eubank
     
  11. Broxi

    Broxi Stand With Ukraine Full Member

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    Hah ... No, not in a while but I did read Filth a while back, is that the one you mean?
     
  12. China_hand_Joe

    China_hand_Joe Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Eubanks Calzaghe would crush a 43 year old Hopkins.
     
  13. Broxi

    Broxi Stand With Ukraine Full Member

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    Then at what point does Joe Calzaghe beat Bernard Hopkins. I don't mean a Eubank Calzaghe against a 43 yr old Hopkins ... at what point did Joe become too much for Hopkins to handle.

    It's argued often on here that Joe just beat an old shot B-Hop, that may be the case. Could Joe have won at any point before Hopkins turned 40, or in other words .. before the Taylor losses (pre 2005)

    If we argue that the hand problem transformed Joe into a superior, adaptable type fighter then that was 1 fight before Lacy.
     
  14. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    In my opinion, Kessler was a serious learning fight for Joe. It is ******* horrible that something along these lines didn't happen for him further back when he was that little bit quicker (but the little bit is so near the very top of the spectrum that it means an awful lot) because then he would have been even more special.

    As it stands, i'm not sure that pre-Kessler Joe could have beaten any version of B-Hop, but POST Kessler Joe has a very good chance against any version. As far as the reality of the thing is concerned, I don't think Joe would have got Hopkins before he actually got him. That is, I pick Hopkins to beat Calzaghe at almost any point in their shared history before the two met.
     
  15. Bodysnatcher

    Bodysnatcher Boxing Junkie Full Member

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